Liverpool FC Forum

[Dundalk]

If he wont play him against Everton I fear the same, away to Blackburn

[Madmax]

Don't think will ever play him this season..

[kazza]

Don't think will ever play him this season..

I bet he starts against Fiorentina.

[Scottbot]

Don't think will ever play him this season..

I bet he starts against Fiorentina.

I think you're right on that, he may get a few minutes at Blackburn next week I would imagine. I still don't understand why he didn't get minutes against Debrecen last week.

[bunglemark2]

If he wont play him against Everton I fear the same, away to Blackburn

Apparently he's getting treatment for a severe case of "piles" - wonder how that came to pass ? Rafa ? Any ideas ?

[Owzat]

Don't think will ever play him this season..

I bet he starts against Fiorentina.

Of all the recent games that would be the daftest if he gets injured, given it is a meaningless game.

It is so annoying that we pay £20m for a player and when he finally gets fit, the manager sees fit to sit him on the bench as if he's some kind of mascot or trophy. Maybe we'd have won and looked deserving had he played yesterday, if he isn't fit then shouldn't he be playing 50-60 mins for the reserves not sitting on his Rs.

[JamCar05]

As I posted about a page back the problem is though, that there aren't any more reserve games before christmas (I think). Neither are there any "easy" upcoming games where we can just expect to be cruising and thus bring on Aquilani (as it seems is what Rafa is hoping for). As for the Fiorentina game it is indeed pointless for us, but for them it's about winning the group ahead of Lyon, so I'm not so sure they'll be going at it lightly. Anyways I agree it's probably the first game he'll get to start, as he'll at least be somewhat used to the pace of their game. We'll probably be resting quite a few regulars for that game what with Arsenal up the following weekend. Now this is the right thing to do imo, but at the same time I'd really like to see Aquilani not just playing alongside backups, as he needs to get to know and gel with our first team. Most of all he needs match practice though, and hopefully in the PL very soon, as that is afterall where he'll be plying his trade for most of the time.

[Benny The Noon]

RAFA BENITEZ today moved to defuse the mystery surrounding Alberto Aquilani’s prolonged absence from Liverpool’s starting line-up – saying he won’t risk players who are not fully fit.

The Italian midfielder has been limited to just 21 minutes of action since joining the Reds in a £17m deal from Roma in August due to a major ankle problem.

Aquilani, though, has been a constant figure on the bench in the past month yet, much to the curiosity of supporters, Benitez has not given him any significant time on the pitch.

It has left many wondering if Aquilani will get his first start this side of Christmas but Benitez insists there is nothing sinister behind his lack of involvement.

Quite simply, the manager has explained that, so tight have some recent games been, it would have been a gamble to pitch an unfit player into battle with the stakes so high.

“It’s more simple than people think,” said Benitez. “He has been out for longer than we expected and, because he has been injured during the summer, he couldn’t train properly.

“Now it is much better and it is a case of improving his match fitness. We want to play him and we thought we might have been able to do that with the reserves at Wigan.

“That was called off (last week) but we had some games at Melwood and he played 45 minutes against our reserves last week. We are trying to improve him as quick as we can.

“But when you have a player who is not fit, he is always going to need time to settle in to a game; if the game is tight and he makes mistakes, then you have a problem.

“We want to protect the player but, at the same time, we want to keep winning games; he understands that he needs to be a little bit fitter before he can play.”

While sightings of him in a Red shirt have been few and far between, Aquilani is clearly a player of ability and, when he is introduced, he will give Liverpool an extra dimension.

Benitez, like supporters, is anxious for that time to arrive as quickly as possible but until he is certain that the 25-year-old can cope with the intensity of the Premier League, he will continue to do a fine balancing act.

“It has not been easy (to not play him) but we are giving him more encouragement in training sessions and he is getting much, much better,” said Benitez.

“We know he is a top class player and we want to do the best for him and the team; but the best for the player and the team sometimes means he cannot play.

“Think about this example. We were winning 1-0 (against Debrecen) the other day and me and Sammy (Lee) were talking about playing him.

“But if we played him for the last 20 minutes, when they were attacking a little bit more and he is not settled, maybe it will be the situation will become worse. It is not easy finding the balance but he is getting better all the time.”

[Owzat]

So in other words he wants to put Aquilani on the bench in case the "perfect" scenario comes up and he can play 20 mins when the match is won. Well I'd pretty much guessed that, but the problem is he should be getting match fitness or you will never get past him sitting on the bench while we're playing poorly and said perfect scenario never happening.

Can't Rafa arrange a friendly or something, does it have to be a reserve match?!?!? Even a practice match must be reasonable if not ideal, Sammy Lee watching with a loaded gun to shoot any tw at who dives in to tackle Aquilani and give him 45 mins. Are we seriously to believe that in the time it has taken us to play FIVE or more games with Aquilani on the bench, Rafa hasn't been able to get Aquilani time on the pitch in a non-1st team match?!?!?!?

[Sir Roger]

RAFA BENITEZ today moved to defuse the mystery surrounding Alberto Aquilani’s prolonged absence from Liverpool’s starting line-up – saying he won’t risk players who are not fully fit.

The Italian midfielder has been limited to just 21 minutes of action since joining the Reds in a £17m deal from Roma in August due to a major ankle problem.

Aquilani, though, has been a constant figure on the bench in the past month yet, much to the curiosity of supporters, Benitez has not given him any significant time on the pitch.

It has left many wondering if Aquilani will get his first start this side of Christmas but Benitez insists there is nothing sinister behind his lack of involvement.

Quite simply, the manager has explained that, so tight have some recent games been, it would have been a gamble to pitch an unfit player into battle with the stakes so high.

“It’s more simple than people think,” said Benitez. “He has been out for longer than we expected and, because he has been injured during the summer, he couldn’t train properly.

“Now it is much better and it is a case of improving his match fitness. We want to play him and we thought we might have been able to do that with the reserves at Wigan.

“That was called off (last week) but we had some games at Melwood and he played 45 minutes against our reserves last week. We are trying to improve him as quick as we can.

“But when you have a player who is not fit, he is always going to need time to settle in to a game; if the game is tight and he makes mistakes, then you have a problem.

“We want to protect the player but, at the same time, we want to keep winning games; he understands that he needs to be a little bit fitter before he can play.”

While sightings of him in a Red shirt have been few and far between, Aquilani is clearly a player of ability and, when he is introduced, he will give Liverpool an extra dimension.

Benitez, like supporters, is anxious for that time to arrive as quickly as possible but until he is certain that the 25-year-old can cope with the intensity of the Premier League, he will continue to do a fine balancing act.

“It has not been easy (to not play him) but we are giving him more encouragement in training sessions and he is getting much, much better,” said Benitez.

“We know he is a top class player and we want to do the best for him and the team; but the best for the player and the team sometimes means he cannot play.

“Think about this example. We were winning 1-0 (against Debrecen) the other day and me and Sammy (Lee) were talking about playing him.

“But if we played him for the last 20 minutes, when they were attacking a little bit more and he is not settled, maybe it will be the situation will become worse. It is not easy finding the balance but he is getting better all the time.”

This is one of Rafas most unsavoury characteristics
He waffles on about intricacies and minute details to try and convince us that we are not privvy to, or understand the complexities of football injuries and how to time the return of a player.
It is shi'te and we know it. Get the lad on the pitch to gain match fitness for fu'cks sake! 30 seconds against debrecen. What was that all about!
Pack it in Rafa trying to make out there is some unbelievable secret only you know and play him!

[aCe']

hahahaha....
Aquilani better turn out to be a world beater or rafas gonna look a right mug with the whole transfer and keeping him out for ages to protect him and all that...

love aquilani and think he got tons of ability and all that but i think the longer we have to wait for him the harder itll be for him to live up to the expectations that seemingly keep building up...

[shawnk]

This is one of Rafas most unsavoury characteristics
He waffles on about intricacies and minute details to try and convince us that we are not privvy to, or understand the complexities of football injuries and how to time the return of a player.
It is shi'te and we know it. Get the lad on the pitch to gain match fitness for fu'cks sake! 30 seconds against debrecen. What was that all about!
Pack it in Rafa trying to make out there is some unbelievable secret only you know and play him!

Agree. Isn't he playing Gerrard and Torres when they are not fully fit or even close to it. The best way to me to gain match fitness is to have them play in a competitive match, at least 15 minutes not 90 seconds. There's never enough training to replace match fitness if we are talking about mental fitness.

[stmichael]

i'd expect him to come off the bench against blackburn and then start against fiorientina next week.

[LFC2007]

hahahaha....
Aquilani better turn out to be a world beater or rafas gonna look a right mug with the whole transfer and keeping him out for ages to protect him and all that...

[aCe']

hahahaha....
Aquilani better turn out to be a world beater or rafas gonna look a right mug with the whole transfer and keeping him out for ages to protect him and all that...

read the post before it...

Didnt wanna quote it cause then i'd have the mods up my a$s (no pun intended Supersub) over all that russian doll nonsense ...

I mean ffs who fckin cares about a quote being too long ?!
Guess we just dont wanna bring the quality of the contributions in the forum down by making it look messy